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The event also attracted protesters, who claimed they did not call the bomb threat, as well as pro-LGBTQ+ counter-protesters. Police found no credible threats.
Somerville Public Library. Kayla Bartkowski for the Boston Globe
A story hour at the Somerville Public Library featuring a drag queen was canceled Saturday following a bomb threat, officials said, as protesters and counterprotesters gathered outside the library .
City Council President Ben Ewen-Campen said on X that a bomb threat canceled the story hour, which was to feature the Boston chapter of Drag Story Hour. The event was scheduled for 2 to 3 p.m. and was recommended for children ages 4 to 8, according to the library.
Drag Story Hour also hosted events in which cross-dressing storytellers read books at the Brookline Public Library and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
“The cowardly bigots of the right stoop to new lows every day, but we will never let them steal our joy,” Ewen-Campen wrote.
Somerville police did not respond to a request for comment Sunday. Cambridge police said their bomb squad responded to the same block of Highland Avenue where story time was being held at the SPL Central Branch.
A Cambridge Police spokesperson would not confirm that the threat was aimed at the library, but said the threat came via email and that the building “which the email referred to as a potential threat” had been evacuated. .
The Cambridge police team searched the area with dogs around 2 p.m. and determined “there was no potential threat”, a spokesperson said. Somerville Police Chief Shumeane Benford told WCVB Saturday that he has not determined whether the bomb threat was a hate crime.
“I would refrain from getting into that because we just don’t know at this point – it’s a concern and of enough concern where it requires us to bring in a number of different resources,” Benford said . “This was a threat to a public space, so we will investigate.”
Protesters and counter-protesters clash outside
Several media outlets reported that pro-LGBTQ+ protesters were outnumbered by a small group of demonstrators speaking out against cross-dressing story time. Ewen-Campen said The Boston Globe that “the police were prepared, they knew there would be protesters and counter-protesters, so it was on everyone’s radar. »
Some photos posted on Reddit appear to show a minor scuffle between protesters. Pro-LGBTQ+ protesters carried pride flags and a trans flag that read “protect trans children.” Some protesters against the event waved a blue flag, lives matter, and signs saying “preserve the innocence of children” and “what about pimp story time?” »
Christine H. Doherty, whose Facebook profile lists her as director of operations for the far-right group Super Happy Fun America, claimed responsibility for the anti-LGBTQ+ protest in a deleted post, according to the Globe. Doherty told WCVB in a statement that he was not responsible for the bomb threat.
“I am excited to announce that the Drag Queen Story Hour event for children ages 4-8 at the Somerville Public Library has been CANCELED!! VICTORY!!” Doherty wrote in the post, according to the Globe. “Thank you to my three Super Happy Fun America sisters and a surprise guest for coming to protest with me.”
The Central Branch of the Somerville Public Library, located next to the high school, recently changed its hours to apparently keep out teenagers who cause disruptions. Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne later reinstated hours and announced plans to add private security.
“Hate has no place here in Somerville,” Ballantyne told WCVB. “When one of us is hurt, we all are hurt, so it’s just not acceptable.”
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